February 27 2004

Crystal Palace

Former England goalkeeping coach Mike Kelly has joined Iain Dowie's backroom staff.

Kelly worked with Dowie at Southampton and explained how a chance phone call to the Palace boss ended up with him being offered the job.

He said: "I rang Iain to get tickets for a game and the topic of conversation turned to the fact he was looking for a goalkeeping coach. He asked what I was doing, I said I was available and that was that!

"I worked on a freelance basis at that time and was also involved with Liverpool, Glasgow Rangers and a couple of other clubs as well.

"Goalkeeper coaching is obviously the most specialist. Most coaches can coach outfield players because that's more to do with team preparation but with the keeper it's down to techniques and understanding."

Regarding Cedric Berthelin, Kelly added: "His work ethic and attitude are very good. He's got good hands and good technique so all I can see at the moment are pluses.

"Obviously playing in a match is completely different to training and it’s all down to whether you have got the temperament to make the correct decisions under pressure and handle different situations."